Masonry anchor



June 3, 1941. v. A. HAMILTON MASONRY ANCHOR Filed July l2, 1938 ww A Mah/raw Patented `lune 3, 1941 UITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MASONRY ANCHOR Van A. Hamilton, Palestine, Tex.

Application July 12, 1938, Serial No. 218,749

(Cl. 'i2-105) Claims.

The invention relates broadly to the art of anchoring articles to masonry structures by means of the use of an anchor plug to which screws, nails or other securing means may be attached. The invention as illustrated by the specification and drawing comprehends a method and construction for securing highway markers in place upon the surface of the roadway. While the invention is illustrated in connection with such use, it is to be understood that the invention is not confined thereto but that, as is apparent, the invention may be used for securing articles of various types to any structure, herein generally designated as a masonry structure.

In securing articles to masonry structures it is frequently necessary to provide such anchorage that both impact and steady forces may be resisted. As regards highway markers, it is particularly necessary that the anchorage be resistant to impacts.

It has been proposed to drive a plug of wood or other material into holes in the surface of a roadway and to secure markers to such plugs in a known manner. It has been found, however, that such construction is unsatisfactory in that it will not effectively withstand the stresses to which it is subjected.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to overcome the indicated difficulties regardless of the nature of the masonry structure or of the article to be secured thereto.

Another object is to provide a method of securing an article to a masonry structure b-y means of the use of a specially constructed anchor block which is highly resistant to withdrawal from an opening within which it has been positioned and which will withstand continued or impact stresses over a long period of time.

Still another object is to provide a masonry anchor which is simple in construction, easy to manufacture and install and which is efiicient and durable in use.

Still another object is to provide a masonry anchor which is so constructed that an inexpensive wooden plug may be used.

Still another object is to provide an anchor plug of brous material having the surface so incised that the peripheral fibers thereof will effectively engage the walls of an opening into which the plug is forced.

Other objects together with the foregoing will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view partly in section of an anchor plug produced in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the surface of a roadway illustrating the method of securing a highway marker to the surface of a roadway.

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the marker of Fig. 2.

The invention is best illustrated by reference to Fig. 2 which shows a marker l secured to the surface of roadway 2, such surface being of concrete or other suitable material as is Well known in the art. The marker l has a body portion which is provided at its outer sides with recesses 3 which present vertical walls ll into which are secured reectors- 5 of suitable colors and which reflect light from the lamps of an oncoming vehicle, whereby such markers serve their intended purpose.

In securing the marker I to the roadway 2, the marker is used as a template to determine points in spaced relation in accordance with the holes l0 in the marker. Openings ll of a suitable depth are then formed in the roadway. A depth of three or four inches for such openings will usually suffice; however, it is not intended that the invention shall be limited to the use of openings of any particular depth.

An anchor plug 20, comprising an essential element of the invention and formed in a manner that will be more fully described, is then forced into the openings l l in the roadway. This plug is preferably, although not necessarily, of such length that the opening Ii is completely filled and the upper end of the plug 2l lies flush with the surface 8 of the roadway. The marker l is then placed upon the roadway so that the holes I0 Will overlie the plugs 20, whereupon the marker may be suitably secured to the plugs 20 by means of the screws 22. The use of fastenings such as screws 22 serve to additionally compress the material of the plugs 26 within the openings Il, whereby such plugs more rmly grip the walls of .the surrounding openings Z.

The plug 20 is made of a fibrous material, preferably wood, as this material is easy to obtain and to convert into a desired form. The fibers of the plug 20 extend substantially longitudinally thereof for reasons that will more fully appear. It is to be understood that reference is made to wood by way of illustration only as other suitable materials may be utilized without departing from the spirit of the invention.

As already indicated Aa plug hairing a smooth outer surface affords insuci-ent gripping action with the Walls of the openings I I to satisfactorily resist impacts or large steady stresses. Hence,

in accordance with the present invention, the plug 2@ is provided with peripheral incisions 25 whereby the surface fibres of the plug are severed. The ends 26 of the fibres 'adjacent one side of the incisions 25 are displaced diagonally outward from the surface of the plug and hence form an upwardly extending barb-like projection.

When a plug of the type just described is forced into the opening ll, the barb-like projections 2t extending upwardly, the fibre ends are forced inwardly but are constantly .urged outwardly because of their previous displaced position. Such being the case, additional pres.-

sure is exerted .against the walls of the opening' Vwalls of the opening l! is greatly increased.

In the plug shown in Fig. l the peripheral incision 25 isA shown as being in the form of `a spiral and hence the displaced fibres 26 form a spiral bead upon the surface of the plug. This for-m of incision is not imperative in the practice of the invention but is effective and convenient to produce. The incision 25 `and the barb-like projections J2d may be formed simultaneously .by rotating the plug on its own axis, as in a lathe, an edged tool being applied to the surface and substantially transverse to the :axis of the plug, whereby the incision 25 is formed. 1f at the same time the edged tool is moved longitudinally of the plug the incision will take on a spiral form and at the same time the ends of the severed fibres adjacent one side of the incision 25 Will be :displaced outwardly in the desired manner.

The plug 2@ is provided with an axial bore of any desired depth to receive the fasteners This bore maybe of any desired depth which is dependent upon the material of the plug 20, the nature of the fasteners 22 vand other factors.

As already indicated it is Anot essential to the invention that the incisionv 25 'and the barblike projection 26 be formed spirally of the plug tend outwardly to form barb-like projectionsI thereon.

If th-e plug 28 is Yto be used under circumstances where it will be subjected Vto miosture, the plug may be impregnated with a water resistant and preserving substance, such for example `as creosete.

Broadly the invention yco'rnprehends .a method and .construction wherebyan article may be attached to a masonry structure, the construction including an anchor plug having displaced sur'- face -bers which provide an effective engagement of the plug with the walls of an opening into which the plug is forced and to Which the desired .article is attached.

What is claimed is:

1. In the method of forming a cylindrical anchor plug of fibrous material the steps `of rotating the plug about its progressively forining an incision upon the surface of the plug whereby the surface fibers Iare severed, and simultaneously displacing outwardly from the surface of the plug the severed ends of the bers `at one side of the incision.

2. An anchoring plug comprising a body of ii-brous material adapted to be forced into an opening, whereby the plug is anchored therein, said |plug being of a fibrous nature and being impregnated with a moisture resisting substance, there being severed peripheral fibers of which the ends at one side of the line of cleavage eX- tend diagonally outwardly from the surface of said plug so that said fibers will increase the gripping ei'ect with the walls of an opening into which the plug is forced.

3. An anchoring plug comprising a body of fibrous material, peripheral incisions in said body, the bers adjacent one side of said incisions being displaced diagonally outwardly from the surface of the body so that when the body is forced into an anchor opening the displaced fibers increase the intimacy of engagement of the body with the walls of the opening.

4. An anchor plug comprising a cylindrical body of fibrous material having longitudinally extending bers, a spiral peripheral cut in the body severing the surface fibers at spaced intervals, the ends of the fibers at one side of the cut being displaced diagonally outwardly from the surface of the body to form barb-like projections thereon.

5. An article of manufacture for securing a member to a masonry structure comprising an anchor plug of fibrous material adapted to drivingly fit Within an opening in the structure, a bore within said plug adapted to engagingly receive a fastener, said plug having severed surface fibers with opposed ends, the ends at one sid-e of the line of cleavage being displaced diagonally outwardly from the outer surfacerthereof so that such fibers provide barb-like projections for engaging the walls of the opening to resist Withdrawal of the .plug from the opening.

` VAN A. HAMILTON. 

